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Tulo tops in baseball in latest All-Star voting update

Rockies teammates Blackmon, Arenado also in position to be voted starters

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Tulo's solo shot 0:40

5/24/14: Troy Tulowitzki sends a solo home run to left field, his 14th of the year, to give the Rockies a 2-0 lead

By Thomas Harding
/
MLB.com |

DENVER -- Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki leads all Major League players in voting for the 85th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis, and teammates Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado remain in position to be voted to join Tulowitzki as National League starters.

Tulowitzki, a three-time All-Star who was voted to start last year's game at Citi Field in New York, led NL voting last week, when the first vote count was announced. Now Tulowitzki has increased his vote total to 1,419,714 to pull ahead of American League leader Mike Trout (1,361,649) of the Angels.

If Tulowitzki holds the lead throughout the voting, it will be a rare feat. Since 1989, the NL has had the top vote-getter just four times -- Ryne Sandberg in 1991, Barry Bonds in 1993, and Albert Pujols in 2006 and '09. Tulowitzki leads the Majors in batting at .350 and on-base percentage at .450. He could become the first NL shortstop to earn consecutive fan-elected starts since Hanley Ramirez won three straight votes from 2008-10.

"It's neat. It's always nice to be recognized by the fans," Tulowitzki said. "Right now my main focus is just trying to help the Rockies win games and let the rest take care of itself."

The top three outfielders in the voting will start the game. Blackmon led outfielders last week, and this week his 883,186 votes put him second behind the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig with 935,276 votes. Blackmon, tied for fourth in the NL with 38 RBIs, would join Larry Walker and Dante Bichette as the only outfielders in Rockies history to be voted as All-Star starters.

Arenado, currently out with a broken left middle finger, leads the third-base voting for the second straight week with 590,745 votes. But the lead is narrow, with five-time fan-elected starter David Wright of the Mets at 565,982, two-time All-Star Aramis Ramirez of the Brewers at 472,321, two-time All-Star and 2012 fan-elected starter Pablo Sandoval of the Giants at 463,050 and Juan Uribe of the Dodgers at 436,776.

In their history, the Rockies have had just five players -- including current players Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, last year -- elected as starters, a total of 10 times. Walker was chosen four times (1997, '98, '99 and 2001), first baseman Todd Helton three ('01, '02, '03) and Bichette once ('96).

The 2014 All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. The AL will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the NL will have eight fan-elected starters. Pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 25 for the NL and 24 for the A.L. -- will be determined through a combination of "Player Ballot" choices and selections made by All-Star managers Mike Matheny (NL) and John Farrell (AL).

Immediately following the announcement of the rosters, you can select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Choose again at that point from among five players in each league. The Final Vote returns for its 13th season with more than 430 million votes cast to date, and you'll be able to make selections on MLB.com, club sites and your mobile device.

You'll be on a voting tear at that point, having already selected starters and the last men, and the ritual will not end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the big game, vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi. The fan voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.